Southend Libraries give away Free Books for World Book Night

Friday, 20th April 2018

Library staff want to share their love of reading by giving out books to people who don’t usually read for pleasure or own books. Southend-on-Sea Borough Libraries have been successful in partnering with The Reading Agency to celebrate the difference that reading makes to people’s lives.

World Book Night is celebrated on 23rd April and is run by The Reading Agency, a national charity that inspires people to become confident and enthusiastic readers: “Because everything changes when we read.”

Copies of ‘My Everything’ by Katie Marsh will be gifted to Southend Foodbanks, Southend Adult Community College and HARP, Southend’s Homeless charity to encourage people to enjoy the pleasure of reading. The books were donated by the publishers.

Reading can help improve mental health and wellbeing. With 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year, The Reading Agency’s research shows that reading can increase empathy, improve relationships with others and reduce the symptoms of depression.

Reading for pleasure is a globally recognised indicator in a huge range of social issues from poverty to mental health, yet in England alone, 36% of people don’t regularly read (DCMS, 2015).

Sue Wilkinson, Chief Executive, The Reading Agency says:

“Our aim with World Book Night has always been to reach and develop new readers and we can’t wait to work again with all of the wonderful public libraries, prisons, colleges and others who do such a terrific job of getting our brilliant books into the hands of people who don’t think reading is for them.”

2018 will be the eighth World Book Night celebration. World Book Night is a fantastic way to celebrate reading and excite new readers. Appropriately it is held on the 23 April, the UNESCO International Day of the Book and, probably, the birth and death date of William Shakespeare.